Two security professionals discuss actual versus potential compromise. The following claim is correct: 'The actual compromise involves an authorized disclosure of classified information.' The other claim is correct: 'Not all security violations involve actual compromise; all involve the potential for compromise.' Who is correct?

Two security professionals discuss actual versus potential compromise. The following claim is correct: 'The actual compromise involves an authorized disclosure of classified information.' The other claim is correct: 'Not all security violations involve actual compromise; all involve the potential for compromise.' Who is correct?

• A. The actual compromise involves an authorized disclosure of classified information.
• B. Not all security violations involve actual compromise; all involve the potential for compromise.
• C. Both A and B are correct.
• D. Neither A nor B is correct.

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is distinguishing a real event from a possible risk. An actual compromise happens when information is disclosed or exposed in reality. If classified information leaves its controlled boundary and is revealed to someone who is allowed to see it, that disclosure is the event that constitutes the actual compromise. In this context, the fact that the disclosure is authorized doesn’t negate that an exposure occurred; it simply means the recipient is permitted to receive it, but the information has still left its secure boundary and become known. The other statement tries to tie not all violations to actual compromise and to every violation having some potential for compromise, which is broader and less precise for defining the moment a compromise actually occurs. The clearest, best-fitting description of an actual compromise in this scenario is that it is an authorized disclosure of classified information.

The main idea here is distinguishing a real event from a possible risk. An actual compromise happens when information is disclosed or exposed in reality. If classified information leaves its controlled boundary and is revealed to someone who is allowed to see it, that disclosure is the event that constitutes the actual compromise. In this context, the fact that the disclosure is authorized doesn’t negate that an exposure occurred; it simply means the recipient is permitted to receive it, but the information has still left its secure boundary and become known.

The other statement tries to tie not all violations to actual compromise and to every violation having some potential for compromise, which is broader and less precise for defining the moment a compromise actually occurs. The clearest, best-fitting description of an actual compromise in this scenario is that it is an authorized disclosure of classified information.